Meet Charlie Ervin Jr

Charlie Ervin Jr. at a Glance

Position: Palm Springs Unified School District Board of Education Trustee, Area 4
Current Board Role: Vice President/Clerk
First Elected: 2022
Seeking: Re-election in 2026
PSUSD Connection: K–12 graduate and longtime Palm Springs community member
Community Experience: Former Planning Commission member, LCAP Ambassador, African American Parent Advisory Council President and Coach
Professional Background: Local business owner

For Charlie Ervin Jr., Palm Springs Unified School District is more than an institution he now helps govern. It is part of his own story.

Ervin has called Palm Springs home for more than 40 years and attended Palm Springs Unified schools from kindergarten through 12th grade. His connection to the district has continued through his work with parents, students and the broader community and, since 2022, as an elected member of the PSUSD Board of Education.

Today, Ervin represents Trustee Area 4 and serves as the Board's Vice President/Clerk. He is seeking re-election in 2026.

But to understand Charlie Ervin Jr., it helps to look beyond the title of school board trustee.

His journey includes growing up in Palm Springs, graduating from PSUSD, becoming a local business owner, serving on the City of Palm Springs Planning Commission, advocating for parents and students, and eventually returning to the school district as an elected trustee.

A Palm Springs Story
Ervin's relationship with Palm Springs Unified began as a student.

After spending his entire K–12 education in the district, he went on to become a local business owner while remaining active in community affairs.

His civic involvement has included service on the City of Palm Springs Planning Commission, as well as extensive involvement in PSUSD parent and community engagement.

Before becoming a trustee, Ervin served as an LCAP Ambassador and as president of the African American Parent Advisory Council (AAPAC).

Those experiences gave him an opportunity to hear directly from parents and students and to participate in conversations about academic achievement, equity, opportunity and the overall educational experience of PSUSD students.

In 2022, Ervin took that experience to the next level when voters elected him to the Board of Education.

Four Years on the Board
Ervin's first term has coincided with a period of significant change and investment within Palm Springs Unified.

Over the past four years, the district has advanced initiatives involving literacy, college and career preparation, campus modernization, student leadership and community engagement.

As an elected trustee, Ervin has participated in the Board's decisions and oversight during this period.

Reading and Academic Achievement
One of the district's priorities has been improving literacy outcomes.

District reporting has highlighted an 8% overall increase in students scoring at or above grade level on end-of-year DIBELS reading screeners. Kindergarten students saw a reported 24% increase, while English learners experienced an 11% improvement.

PSUSD continues to use reading screeners, STAR assessments and other progress-monitoring tools as part of its data-driven instructional approach. The district says these systems are intended to identify where students need additional intervention or enrichment.

For a school board trustee, academic achievement is ultimately about more than numbers. It means ensuring that students have access to the instruction, resources and support they need to succeed.

Expanding the College Pipeline
Another major development during Ervin's tenure has been the expansion of opportunities for PSUSD students to earn college credit while still in high school.

PSUSD has partnered with College of the Desert (COD) to provide dual-enrollment opportunities, allowing eligible high school students to earn both high school and college credit. The district says these courses can help students begin building a college transcript while still in high school and can connect coursework to future majors and careers.

The district is taking that concept even further with the planned Middle College High School, scheduled to launch in 2027–28 in partnership with College of the Desert's new Palm Springs campus.

Students will be able to attend high school while taking college courses and potentially earn enough credits to receive both a high school diploma and an associate degree.

For students and families, the goal is to make the transition from high school to higher education more direct and accessible.

A Major Investment in School Facilities
Perhaps the most visible long-term initiative during Ervin's first term is the district's investment in its physical campuses.

In November 2024, PSUSD voters approved Measure S, authorizing up to $465 million in general obligation bonds for school modernization and improvements. The measure provides funding for projects including STEAM facilities, career technical education classrooms, HVAC systems, roofs, playgrounds, security and communication systems and other improvements.

The Board subsequently adopted a long-range facilities master plan to guide modernization across the district.

One of the major projects emerging from that planning is the proposed $105 million modernization of Bubbling Wells Elementary School in Desert Hot Springs. The project includes new classroom buildings and other campus improvements.

Work has also continued at Cathedral City High School, which is part of the district's broader modernization effort.

For Ervin, these projects represent decisions that extend far beyond a single four-year term. The buildings and facilities being planned today are intended to serve PSUSD students for decades.

Investing in Student Leadership
Academic achievement is only one part of a student's education.

During Ervin's tenure, PSUSD has also supported programs designed to provide students with mentorship, leadership development and opportunities to see themselves in new possibilities.

Programs such as Kings Circle have focused on mentorship and leadership development for BIPOC male students, creating opportunities for students to build confidence, develop relationships with mentors and explore their potential.

This type of work is particularly consistent with Ervin's history with the African American Parent Advisory Council and his long-standing interest in creating opportunities for students.

His involvement has included efforts to expose PSUSD students to historically Black colleges and universities and to experiences outside the Coachella Valley.

Listening to Families
Another important part of Ervin's background is his emphasis on community engagement.

Before becoming a trustee, he was already involved in parent advisory work. That experience has continued to inform his perspective as a Board member.

PSUSD has expanded the ways it gathers feedback from families and community members, including the use of family surveys and Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) engagement processes.

The district's goal is to use stakeholder feedback alongside student achievement data to help shape priorities and evaluate progress.

For someone who spent years participating in those conversations as a community member, Ervin's transition to the Board represents a change in role—but not necessarily a change in the importance he places on listening.

From Student to Trustee
Perhaps the most interesting part of Charlie Ervin Jr.'s story is the full circle it represents.

He started as a Palm Springs Unified student.

He became a parent and community advocate.

He served in local civic roles.

He became involved in PSUSD's parent advisory structure.

And in 2022, he became one of the people responsible for helping govern the district that educated him.

Four years later, he is seeking another term on the Board.

During his first term, PSUSD has experienced significant developments in literacy, college and career pathways, student leadership, community engagement and long-term campus modernization.

Those accomplishments are the result of teachers, administrators, staff, students, families and community partners working together, with the elected Board providing governance and oversight.

For Charlie Ervin Jr., however, the work carries a personal significance.

He isn't simply governing a school district.

He's helping shape the future of the school district that helped shape him.